Onion brings tears to consumer: Wholesale price triples under Modi govt

WPI-based inflation for onion December 2017 touched 197% in a year, tomato remained high at 136%

Wholesale prices of onion and tomato saw the highest rise under the incumbent National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, with wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation for onion touching 197 per cent over a year. This means onion prices almost tripled as on December 2017, while tomato remained high at 136 per cent, down from a peak of 270 per cent in November 2017. 

The previous peaks in WPI inflation for onion (375 per cent) and tomato (155 per cent) were observed in October 2013, months before the United Progressive Alliance vacated the government chambers (see chart 1). 

Retail prices of vegetables